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WORLD CONFERENCE on INTERNATIONAL

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Mr Eddy Hartog Head of Unit International

European Commission - DG CONNECTeddy.hartog@ec.europa.eu

European Parliament, Brussels 12 July 2012

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The history

Taken from a CEPT presentation

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The purpose of the ITRs

“… [ ITR] establish general principles which relate to the provision and operation of international telecommunication services offered to the public as well as to the underlying international telecommunication transport means used to provide such services. They also set rules applicable to administrations. …”

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The reason for the WCIT

The international telecom 

environment has significantly 

evolved since 1988, both from 

technical and policy perspectives, 

and continues to evolve rapidly

Advances in technology mean an 

increased use of IP‐enabled 

infrastructure and applications: 

opportunities and challenges

for the ICT sector

As technology evolves, Member 

States are evaluating their policy 

and regulatory approaches to 

ensure an enabling environment

Shift from fixed to mobile, 

from voice to data as the 

drivers of traffic and main 

sources of revenue

Taken from an ITU presentation

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The build-up to the WCIT

• Resolution 121resolves1 that the Union* should continue a process of

reviewing the ITRs;2 that a world conference on international

telecommunications be convened at the seat of the Union* in 2007 or 2008, on the basis of the recommendations arising from this process of review,

…• Resolution 146resolves1 that a review of the ITRs should be carried out;…• Resolution 171resolves1 that CWG-WCIT-12 continue the preparation of

WCIT-12;2 that the agenda and dates for the conference as

fixed in Council Resolution 1317 be adopted for the work of WCIT-12;

…

* Union in this context means ITU

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The WCIT in context

ITU-PP

CSTD

IGF

ICANN

WTPF

WCIT

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The actors

Taken from a CEPT presentation

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The type of proposals

• Mobile roaming• Misuse and fraud• Taxation• Transparency of routing• New general principles on economic

issues• Allowing differentiated traffic

management• Cooperation on cyber-security• Cooperation to combat spam

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The European guiding principles

• Keep high level principles• Technology and market neutral (and future

proof)• Respect sovereignty (e.g. on cybercrime)• Management of Internet resources, Internet

routing not to be integrated in ITRs• Ensure EU regulatory framework and acquis

is not amended by ITRs adjustments

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The risks

• Incompatibility with EU ‘acquis’• Internet management requirements

that restrict its growth and development and limit innovation

• Net neutrality• Text allowing for different

interpretations

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Some relevant EU legislation

• Common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services

• Directive on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services

• Directive concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector

• Regulation on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws

• Directive (2002) on competition in the markets for electronic communications networks and services;

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The role of the European Union

EU =

Cion +MS

CEPT

ITR parties

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The role of the European Union

• European Commission is a sector member of ITU: parties to ITR are member states

• Article 218(9) TFEU requires common position

• Proposal for Council Decision in preparation

• Discussions with stakeholders – transparency

• Practical preparations

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Thank you

eddy.hartog@ec.europa.eu

CEPThttp://www.cept.org

CEPT Com-ITUhttp://www.cept.org/com-itu

WCIT-12http://www.itu.int/wcit

CWG-WCIT12http://www.itu.int/council/groups/cwg-wcit12/index.html